Air embolism from pericatheter air leak

A 25-year-old male with end-stage kidney disease from obstructive uropathy and neurogenic bladder presented to the emergency room with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Two weeks before this presentation, the patient was started on hemodialysis via nontunneled precurved hemodialysis catheter, which was inserted into the right internal jugular vein. A cranial computed tomography obtained for the seizures revealed subcutaneous emphysema of the scalp and air bubbles within the dural venous sinuses (Figure  1a).
Source: Kidney International - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Nephrology Image Source Type: research